The latest Medal award
On 13 January 2008, the Greek vessel Ice Prince and her 20 crew were 34 miles south east of Berry Head, Devon, when her cargo shifted, causing a dangerous list. With one crewman injured and the severe gale showing no sign of abating, a worried Ship's Master radioed Brixham Coastguard for help.
Coastguard helicopter India Juliet and the Torbay and Salcombe lifeboats were asked to launch. Torbay Coxswain Mark Criddle says: ‘We left harbour at around 15 knots. Over the radio from the ship, we heard that they had lost their engine and were drifting and heeling over badly. Soon after that, their generator went down.
‘We increased our speed to 20 knots, put the bow of the lifeboat down low into the water and harnessed ourselves in. It was a very rough and uncomfortable passage but I knew that, this way, I could take 15–20 minutes off our estimated 2-hour journey.'
From about 4 miles off, the helicopter's lights could be seen and the shape of the Ice Prince loomed through the darkness. In winds of up to 45 knots, a heavy swell and occasional rain squalls, the helicopter took 12 men onboard and returned to land. The lifeboat then asked Ice Prince's Master what his intentions were. He said that he planned to abandon ship.
The Torbay crew got ready to help the Ice Prince sailors aboard the lifeboat. They made several test approaches and then asked for the ship's crew to come one by one to the point where they could jump across when the lifeboat was near enough. But first, each man had to climb over two anchor winches and a flagpole across a deck that was now at a 45° angle.
Crew Member and Doctor Alex Rowe says: ‘It was very difficult for us to communicate with the casualties because of the noise and the language barrier. They only had about a 1-second opportunity to make the movement across to the lifeboat.'
Four lifeboat crew members stood on the foredeck, catching three men in turn as they jumped aboard. But the fourth man was very frightened so the lifeboat tried to get nearer – until the two vessels collided and he fell into the water. Miraculously, a wave swept him back on to the ship.
From then on, Ice Prince's crew were extremely scared, and the lifeboat had to steer even closer to the ship and grab the men from the deck. Mark says: ‘The massive stern anchor got very close to our guys and we could have lost them.' Only the searchlights of the two lifeboats (Salcombe lifeboat was standing by) illuminated the scene. It took over an hour and a quarter and around 50 approaches to pull the men to safety, while the ship increased her list and rolled uncontrollably.
Mark was awarded the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry – the first awarded by the charity in 3 years. His crew each received Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.
